Everything SEC, from coaching rumors and rankings to a Mizzou-Alabama preview with Saturday Down South (Google Hangout)

Just how strong is Alabama’s defense? Find out on our latest Google Hangout below.

To start things off, no big surprise here, but Mizzou junior defensive end Shane Ray (Kansas City, Mo.) has been named a finalist for the 2014 Hendricks Award, as announced by the Ted Hendricks Foundation on Thursday (Dec. 4). The award honors the nation’s top defensive end and the list of six finalists was narrowed down from 18 players who were named to the watch list earlier this season.

Ray, a native of Kansas City, Mo., is third in the nation with his 20.5 tackles-for-loss and is sixth with his 12.0 total sacks. Ray leads the SEC in both categories and also leads the league in sacks per game and tackles for loss per game. He is a big part of a Mizzou defense that has been sensational in SEC play. In league games, Mizzou’s defense ranks first in rushing defense, first in total defense and second in both scoring and passing defense. Over the Tigers’ current six-game winning streak, Ray and the Tigers have held opponents to just 98.5 rushing yards per game and 281.5 total yards.

Jon Cooper from Saturday Down South joins me to talk everything that is SEC football from rankings and rumors to a preview of the championship game this Saturday.